US OPEN

September 1, 2026

Madison Keys

Press Conference

M. KEYS/A. Korneeva

7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Madison, congratulations on moving to the second round.

Questions.

Q. Nice win. I think you said you still feel like a teenager, and I was thinking that you turned pro of course at 14. Now that means you have been playing professional tennis for most of your life. I just wonder if you ever reflect on that and what that all means to you.

MADISON KEYS: I don't know. It always feels a little bit weird. I think I was thinking a little bit more about it just because the last couple of days everyone keeps reminding me that it's my 15th US Open, which doesn't feel possible because I'm so young (smiling).

It's just I think that in a lot of ways it's been a huge blessing I started so young, just because I really got to get into it at such a young age and when I didn't really even understand what was going on, so I was able to just kind of experience it in a really different way.

But it's definitely been, I think, the most interesting, because I feel like as a person I've changed a lot throughout the years and kind of just evolved as a person while getting to kind of do the same job.

Q. It's easy to start a podcast but it's harder to keep one going, especially with four co-hosts. As you reach the two-year mark of The Players Box, what has been the secret to that longevity and keeping everyone so efficient?

MADISON KEYS: It's been super fun, and I think we all just really enjoy doing it. It doesn't feel like a job. It doesn't feel like something we're just checking off every single week.

I would say the hardest part is definitely just figuring out schedules. Figuring out your own schedule once a week is difficult enough. To figure out four moving schedules in different time zones gets a little tricky.

We really enjoy it. It is so fun, and I think it's given us all an outlet where we're kind of getting into a different part of the sport, and we're all kind of really enjoying that aspect of it and kind of just seeing what else is out there for post-tennis.

Q. You have been outspoken about online bullying and social media, particularly from betters. The US Open announced this week that they're partnering with Kalshi. Do you have any reaction to that news, whether you feel like that association might escalate things? What are your thoughts?

MADISON KEYS: To be completely honest, I had no idea until you just said that, so I don't feel like I have a great idea or stance on it, just because I have been pretty not in the loop on things like that. But like I have always said, I will stand by protecting players.

Mental health is, I think, always No. 1, and as long as there is some sort of plan in place for that, then I guess we'll see in the future if there is.

Q. I have heard from some players that say that around the slam first rounds that there is so much anxiety, some male players, say that there is so much anxiety that there are even lines to the bathroom because people need to get things out. In your 15 years of coming here, how have you experienced the tension of a Grand Slam first round? Do you feel it much or is that not relevant to you?

MADISON KEYS: No, it's very relevant (smiling). I think we all kind of laugh. Jess and I were talking about it the other day where it's, like, you can kind of feel, as the days are getting closer, everyone gets here, you have a week, everyone is excited to be here, and then as the days are slowly getting closer to first rounds, racquets are maybe getting a little slippery, you can hear more yelling happening, and you can kind of feel the tension.

I think collectively we all just get really anxious. We're probably feeding off of each other, as well, but we all want to do well. It all feels like I think the buildup is always so hard, just because you're so in it and you're anticipating the tension that's going to happen and the anxiety that's going to happen.

So it's definitely very relevant and very real.

Q. There is so much conversation about how this event has changed over the years, that from a perspective of people coming to watch, it's more expensive, more crowded. I was wondering if any of that trickles into your consciousness when you come? As you experience change, are you noticing those kinds of changes with this event?

MADISON KEYS: I myself haven't felt a huge difference. I think you see that it's a lot more -- there is a lot more, I think, kind of like influencers. It's very much, kind of more of a scene a little bit here.

But I feel like that's kind of always been the US Open. I feel like every slam kind of has their own identity, and the US Open has kind of always been the big-show Grand Slam.

Q. When the match ended, did you, in a way feel, a sense of relief just after what happened last year? How long did that maybe take for the sting of last year to wear off from the US Open?

MADISON KEYS: Thank you for bringing that up.

Yeah, I think that today is obviously tough, because you go back on the court where you had a really tough loss, and to go back out and play another first round, it's always hard. To have that kind of lingering memory is tough.

I mean, I don't know how long it took for the loss of last year. I kind of forgot about it, to be totally honest.

But yeah, it's always hard to come back to a place where you last played and it was a tough loss.